Cancer Patients

A major impediment to effectively managing cancer pain in companion animals is its accurate and timely recognition by veterinarians. Cancer pain arises from the direct invasion of tumor cells into nerves, bones, soft tissue, ligaments, and fascia. Through the use of preclinical murine tumor models where tumor cells are directly implanted within the intramedullary cavity of bone, the pathophysiology and neurochemistry of bone cancer pain have been well characterized. Ionizing radiation is effective for managing localized forms of cancer. The administration of systemic chemotherapy is not typically uncomfortable; however, it can infrequently result in painful local and systemic side-effects. Invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures can cause acute nociceptive pain in veterinary cancer patients. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to control nociceptive pain in companion animals. The most common and striking presenting sign of dogs with osteosarcoma (OS) is lameness associated with severe pain of the affected bone.